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Open house for MnDOT tree removal on February 15

An example of the tree removal plan for Smith Avenue. Trees that are green will remain, other colors indicate reasons for removal.

As MnDOT repaves Smith Avenue and Dodd Road this summer, a large number of trees will be impacted and many will be removed, with the most significant impacts on Smith north of Annapolis.

Most of these trees are being removed because they are in poor health or because of the logisitics involved with reconstruction of sidewalks to bring them into ADA compliance. MnDOT has provided an explainer and detailed maps showing which trees will be removed. In all the agency expects 115 trees to be affected, and will replanting trees in some instances and doing other landscaping in impacted areas.

MnDOT is holding an open house on Thursday, February 15 from 6-8 p.m. at Somerset Elementary to discuss the changes.

The full text of the news release is below.

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The public is invited to learn about upcoming landscaping work along Highway 149 between St. Paul and Mendota Heights at an open house scheduled for Feb. 15.

The event will be held from 6 – 8 p.m. at Somerset Elementary School, 1355 Dodd Rd. in Mendota Heights, Minn. There will be a formal presentation at 6:30 p.m.

The landscaping and replanting project includes replacing 115 boulevard trees along Smith Avenue and Dodd Road—also known as Highway 149—as well as Annapolis Street.

Open House attendees will have the opportunity to provide input on trees that may be planted as part of the project and learn more about why some trees are schedule to be replaced. Representatives from the Minnesota Department of Transportation and project staff will be on hand to answer questions.

The replanting project is part of a larger construction effort on Highway 149 that includes:

Reconstructing the deck of the Smith Avenue High Bridge.

Resurfacing Smith Avenue and Dodd Road—Highway 149—between West 7th Street in St. Paul and I-494 in Mendota Heights.

Improving drainage, sidewalks and pedestrian accessibility.

Replacing signals at five Highway 149 intersections.

Constructing an additional left turn lane from westbound I-494 to southbound Dodd Road in Mendota Heights.

The project will extend the lifespan of Highway 149 and the High Bridge, provide a smoother road surface and improve pedestrian and bicycle accommodations on the bridge.

To request an ASL or foreign language interpreter, call 651-366-4720. To request other reasonable accommodations, call 651-366-4718; the Minnesota Relay service toll-free at 1-800-627-3529) TTY, Voice or ASCII) or 711, or email your request to adarequest.dot@state.mn.us.